Device for distribution of accounts



March 10, 1936.

F. A. NIEMANN 2,033,147

DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTION OF ACCOUNTS Filed Feb. 7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w k fzverztmf- March 10, 1936. A, MEMANN DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTION OF ACCOUNTS Filed Feb. 7/1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 whim Patented Mar. 10, 1936 PATENT -OFFICE 2,033,141 DEVICE For. ms'rmU'rIoNoF ACCO Frederick A. Niemann,

UNTS

Chicago, 111., assignor to Felt & Tan-ant Mg. 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 7, 1934, Serial No. 710,133

12 Claims.

This invention relates in general to devices for. holding -a plurality of individual record sheets in parallelism and in shingled relation and for facilitating computation of like items displayed thereon; and more particularly the provision of an arrangement of record sheets, and means for maintaining them so arranged, on a backing support so that a line guide may readily indicate like items variously displayed on said plurality of sheets for lateral addition or extension. The invention, generally, is an improvement'upon the structure described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,884,814 to Frederick A. Niemann and KurtF. Ziehm, granted October 25, 1932.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a sheet or record holding device adapted to hold a plurality of strips or sheets provided with columns of numerical data, in shingled relation and with only a desired column of each of said sheets exposed, and means for holding the strips or sheets securely in the desired predetermined position and relationship as the calculations are made from the extended items of the exposed columns.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a strip or sheet holding device adapted to receive and hold securely the ends of a multiplicity of strips or sheets in predetermined position and relation upon a backing support for desired calculations, which device and its assembled strips or sheets may be reversed as a unit so that exposed columns of data on the opposite side of the strips may be quickly extended without rearrangement of the device or disturbance of the held sheets.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a strip or sheet holding device which is adapted to hold the strips or sheets securely in predetermined position and which is also adapted for ready attachment to or detachment from a backing support upon which the strips or sheets are arranged for desired calculations.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a record sheet holder embodying my present invention, showing a multiplicity of record sheets held therein;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, showing the sheets and the sheet holding means in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the device in reversed position; 1

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section, showing the-device in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end view of the sheet holding device;

Fig. 6 is a similar-view showing the sheet holding means in reversed position;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary bottomplan view of the sheet holding means applied to the pegs which are shown in section; and

Fig. 9 is a similar view without the pegs.

The record sheet holder embodying the present 15 invention and shown on the drawings, comprises a strip or sheet holding means, generally indicated by reference character ll, adapted for attachment to a backing support l2 upon which a multiplicity of record strips or sheets 13 may be 20 arranged in desired position and relationship. A T-square or guide line 14 extends across the backing support to facilitate lateral reading of like items across-the assembled sheets or strips.

The strips l3 .are duplicates each of the other 5 and are printed alike on both sides as described and disclosed in Niemann and Ziehm Patent No. 1,884,814, so that when the device with its held sheets is reversed, like data may be extended and added laterally without rearrangement of the 30 sheets. Each strip 13 is provided with marginal columns l5, l5 and a central column I1 and suitable perforations are provided near its top edge.

It is desired or intended that the sheets or strips be held or clamped by the clamping means i l in such manner that the tranverse lines on each sheet form extensions of corresponding lines on adjacent-sheets to permit rapid addition or extension of like items laterally of the entire backing support. For this purpose the sheets are ar- 40 ranged in shingled relation with like marginal columns of the several strips exposed, and the transverse lines on each of these columns forming continuations of each other. When assembled in this relation the sheets are securely held by the clamping means which will now be described. a

The sheet or strip clamping means I 1 comprises a pin or peg carrying plate 18' which is somewhat longer thanthe-intended width of the assembled and shingled strips, and is provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting pins or pegs 19 arranged at regularly spaced intervals on the plate and suitably secured thereto by rivets, generally indicated at 2!. 'lhese pegs 19 are adapted to receive the multiplicity of strips l3 and the perforations in these strips are in registration with thepegs. A confining or holding member 22 is adapted to be pressed over the pegs l9 and brought down upon the positioned sheets or strips to hold them against inadvertent displacement during calculation or when reversing the device with its contained sheets.

This holding member 22 is preferably made of resilient flexible metal and is horeshoe shaped in cross-section, i. e. a longitudinal slot 23 is provided throughout its entire length and when the member 22 is positioned over the pegs and pressed down it is secured frictionally to the pegs. This frictional locking engagement is produced by the inherent resiliency of the material of the holding member.

The frictional engagement of the holding member with the pegs is enhanced by deflecting the marginal portions thereof adjacent the slot 23 to provide a restriction in the width of the slot, as indicated at 24 in Fig. '7. The-opening between these deflected parts 24 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the pegs l9 (viewing Fig. 9) and it will be apparent that when the holding member 22 is pressed down over the pegs, the friction between the pegs and the deflected portions 24 will be suflicient to securely hold the member 22 in engagement with the alined sheets or strips.

Permanently secured adjacent each end of the member 22 is a reinforcing ring or bushing 25 which strengthens the member and prevents splitting or deformation of the ends when it is forced over the pegs. These reinforcing rings also serve to spread the ends of the member 22 slightly so that the first peg will enter the slot easily and act as a guide for the member as it is pressed down over the other pegs.

As has been stated, the plate l8 extends beyondthe outer marginal edges of the assembled record sheets and is provided adjacent each end with keyhole slots or notches 26, 21 extending in from opposite sides of the plate. The round portion of each slot is bevelled as indicated at 28, 29. These keyhole slots engage spring pressed resilient holding members or grip pins to secure the plate l8 tothe backing support l2.

These holding members or grip pins 3| comprise a post 32 arranged through each of the two upper corners of the backing support and provided with an enlarged head 33 on the upper side of the backing support. The post 32 extends through the board and through a washer 34 arranged on the under side of the board. A spring 35 encircles the post 32 and is maintained under tension by a second washer 36 at the lower end of the post. The two washers with the interposed spring are held in positionby means of a cotter key or pin 31. It will be apparent that the spring 35 has atendency to yieldingly urge the head 33 of the grip pin against the plate l8 to securely latch the latter in'position.

To facilitate attachment, the lower part of the head 33 is bevelled, as indicated at 38, to correspond with the bevelled portions 28, 29 of the plate which is latched in position by sliding the keyhole slots 26 along the shank of the pins until the bevelled head 33 drops into the round bevelled recess of the slot.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be apparent that the sheet holding means may be latched to the backing support by engaging either the lower keyhole slots 21 or the upper slots 26 with the grip pins 3|.

The record sheet holding means I l is reversible as a unit with its assembled sheets or strips and without requiring repositioning or rearrangement of the sheets. This is accomplished by merely sliding the plate l8 oif the backing support, reversing it endwise and engaging the keyhole slots 21 with the posts or grip pins 3!. Thus arranged, the pegs and holding member 22 are disposed beyond the rear edge of the backing support, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 6.

Suitable supporting means 39 are provided adjacent the corners of the backing support and serve to maintain the support above the surface of a desk or table when positioned thereon. These supports may be of rubber or other desired material and are of suflicient height to maintain the lower end of the pegs and the holding member 22 above the surface of the desk when the holder is reversed as shown in Fig. 6.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a-preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

, 1. In a record sheet holder, having a backing support for a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data, a retaining de vice attachable to and detachable from the backing support for receiving and holding the ends of said strips of paper in predetermined position and relationship, said retaining device comprising a plate provided with a plurality of upstanding pegs upon which said multiplicity of strips of paper may be impaled, and a resilient sheet retaining member having a longitudinal slot frictionally and yieldingly engageable with said plurality of pegs, the retaining member being provided with slot restricting portions inward of the edges of the slot and adapted for frictional engagement with said pegs. I

2. In a record sheet holder, having a backing support for a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data, a clamping device removably attachable to the backing support for receiving and holding the ends of said strips of paper in predetermined position and relationship, said clamping device comprising a plate provided with a plurality of upstanding pegs upon which said multiplicity of strips of paper may be impaled, and a resilient sheet holding member having an opening frictionally engageable with said plurality of pegs.

3. In a record sheet holder, having a backing support for a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data, a retaining device removably attachable to the backing support for receiving and holding the ends of said strips of paper in predetermined position and relationship, said retaining device comprising a relationship, said clamping device comprising a plate' provided with -a plurality of upstanding pegs upon which said multiplicity of strips of paper may be impaled, and a resilient sheet holding member having a longitudinal slot frictionally and yieldingly engageable with a plurality of pegs.

5. In a record sheet holder, having a backing support for a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data, a clamping device removably attachable to the backing support for receiving and holding the ends of said strips of paper in predetermined position and relationship, said clamping device comprising a plate provided with a plurality of upstanding pegs upon which said multiplicity of strips of paper may be impaled, and a resilient sheet holding member having a longitudinal slot frictionally and yieldingly engageable with said plurality of pegs, the sheet holding member being provided with slot restricting portions inward of the. edges of the slot and adapted for frictional engagement with said pegs.

6. In a record sheet holder, having a backing support for a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data, a clamping device rem'ovably attachable to the backing support for receiving and holding the ends of said strips of paper in predetermined position and relationship, said clamping device comprising a plate provided with a plurality of upstanding pegs upon which said multiplicity of strips of paper may be impaled, and a resilient sheet holding member having a longitudinal slot frictionally and yieldingly engageable with a plurality of pegs, and reinforcing means for the sheet holding member at the ends thereof.

- 7. In a record sheet holder, having a backing support for a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data, a clamping device removably attachable to the backing support for receiving and holding the ends of said strips of paper in predetermined position and relationship, said clamping device comprising a plate provided with a plurality of upstanding pegs upon which said multiplicity of strips of paper may be impaled, and a sheet holding memher having a longitudinal slot frictionally and yieldingly engageable with a plurality of pegs, and means for preventing spreading of said sheet holding member at its ends.

8. In a record sheet holder, comprising a backing support for a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data, a clamping device removably attachable to the backing support for receiving and holding the ends of said strips of paper in predetermined position and relationship, said clamping device comprising a plate provided with a plurality of upstanding pegs upon which said multiplicity of strips of paper may be impaled, and a resilient sheet holding member having a longitudinal slot frictionally and yieldingly engageable with a plu-,

rality of pegs, and annular bushings fixed in the holding member at the ends thereof.

9. In a recordsheet holder, having a backing support for a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data, a clamping device attachable to said backing support for receiving and holding the ends of said strips of paper, said clamping device comprising a plate provided with a plurality of upstanding pegs upon which said multiplicity of strips of paper may be impaled, and a sheet retaining member engaging said pegs to hold said strips of paper in desired predetermined position and relationship, said clamping device with said strips of paper being removable from said backing support and reversbly attachable thereto to present the backs of such multiplicity of strips of paper.

10. In a record sheet holder, having a backing support for a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data, a clamping device reversibly attachable to said backing support for engaging the ends of said strips of paper to hold them in predetermined desired position and relationship, said clamping device having sheet holding means arranged beyond the dge of said backing support and clearing said support when said clamping device is in reversed position.

11. In a record sheet holder, a sheet retaining means having a plurality of upstanding pegs upon which the sheets may be impaled, and a rounded channel member frictionally engaging said pegs to maintain said sheets in desired position.

12. In a record sheet holder, a sheet retaining means having a plurality of upstanding posts upon which the sheets may be impaled, and a resilient channel member having a substantially horseshoe shaped cross section for frictionally engaging said posts.

FREDERICK A. NIEMANN. 

